Distributed antenna systems (das) supporting expanded, programmable communications services distribution to programmable remote communications service sector areas

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclosed herein include distributed antenna systems (DASs) supporting expanded, programmable communications services distribution to remote communications service sector areas. In one embodiment, the DAS includes a first programmable switch for distributing downlink communications signals into one or more communications service sector sets. The DAS further includes a second programmable switch configured to distribute the one or more communications service sector sets to one or more remote communications service sector areas. A configurable extender module is also included to provide expanded routing of communications service sector sets in the DAS. In this manner, the DAS is programmable to allow any combination of communications service sector sets and expanded communications service sector sets from any number of different base stations to be routed to any combination of remote communications service sector areas and expanded remote communications service sector areas, based on capacity needs and capability of the DAS.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/IL2015/050217 filed on Feb. 26, 2015 which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/944,745 filed on Feb. 26,2014, both applications being incorporated herein by reference byreference.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/914,585 filed on Oct. 28, 2010 and entitled “Sectorization InDistributed Antenna Systems, and Related Components and Methods,” whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The technology of the present disclosure relates generally todistributed antenna systems (DASs) that support distributingcommunications services to remote antenna units, and particularly tosupporting programmable remote communications service sector areas.

Wireless communication is rapidly growing, with ever-increasing demandsfor high-speed mobile data communication. As an example, local areawireless services (e.g., so-called “wireless fidelity” or “WiFi”systems) and wide area wireless services are being deployed in manydifferent types of areas (e.g., coffee shops, airports, libraries,etc.). Distributed communications or antenna systems communicate withwireless devices called “clients,” “client devices,” or “wireless clientdevices,” which must reside within the wireless range or “cell coveragearea” in order to communicate with an access point device. Distributedantenna systems are particularly useful to be deployed inside buildingsor other indoor environments where client devices may not otherwise beable to effectively receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a source,such as a base station for example. Example applications wheredistributed antenna systems can be used to provide or enhance coveragefor wireless services include public safety, cellular telephony,wireless local access networks (LANs), location tracking, and medicaltelemetry inside buildings and over campuses.

One approach to deploying a distributed antenna system involves the useof RF antenna coverage areas, also referred to as “antenna coverageareas.” Antenna coverage areas can be formed by remotely distributedantenna units, also referred to as remote units (RUs). The remote unitseach contain or are configured to couple to one or more antennasconfigured to support the desired frequency(ies) or polarization toprovide the antenna coverage areas. Antenna coverage areas can have aradius in the range from a few meters up to twenty meters as an example.Combining a number of remote units creates an array of antenna coverageareas. Because the antenna coverage areas each cover small areas, theretypically may be only a few users (clients) per antenna coverage area.This arrangement generates a uniform high quality signal enabling highthroughput supporting the required capacity for the wireless systemusers.

As an example, FIG. 1 illustrates distribution of communicationsservices to coverage areas 10(1)-10(N) of a DAS 12, wherein ‘N’ is thenumber of coverage areas. These communications services can includecellular services, wireless services such as RFID tracking, WirelessFidelity (WiFi), local area network (LAN), WLAN, and combinationsthereof, as examples. The coverage areas 10(1)-10(N) may be remotelylocated. In this regard, the remote coverage areas 10(1)-10(N) arecreated by and centered on remote antenna units 14(1)-14(N) connected toa central unit 16 (e.g., a head-end controller or head-end unit). Thecentral unit 16 may be communicatively coupled to a base station 18. Inthis regard, the central unit 16 receives downlink communicationssignals 20D from the base station 18 to be distributed to the remoteantenna units 14(1)-14(N). The remote antenna units 14(1)-14(N) areconfigured to receive downlink communications signals 20D from thecentral unit 16 over a communications medium 22 to be distributed to therespective coverage areas 10(1)-10(N) of the remote antenna units14(1)-14(N). Each remote antenna unit 14(1)-14(N) may include an RFtransmitter/receiver (not shown) and a respective antenna 24(1)-24(N)operably connected to the RF transmitter/receiver to wirelesslydistribute the communications services to client devices 26 within theirrespective coverage areas 10(1)-10(N). The remote antenna units14(1)-14(N) are also configured to receive uplink communications signals20U from the client devices 26 in their respective coverage areas10(1)-10(N) to be distributed to the base station 18. The size of agiven coverage area 10(1)-10(N) is determined by the amount of RF powertransmitted by the respective remote antenna unit 14(1)-14(N), thereceiver sensitivity, antenna gain and the RF environment, as well as bythe RF transmitter/receiver sensitivity of the client device 26. Clientdevices 26 usually have a fixed RF receiver sensitivity, so that theabove-mentioned properties of the remote antenna units 14(1)-14(N)mainly determine the size of their respective remote coverage areas10(1)-10(N).

The DAS 12 in FIG. 1 may also be provided in an indoor environment, asillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a partially schematic cut-away diagramof a building infrastructure 28 employing the DAS 12. The buildinginfrastructure 28 in this embodiment includes a first (ground) floor30(1), a second floor 30(2), and a third floor 30(3). The floors30(1)-30(3) are serviced by the central unit 16 to provide the antennacoverage areas 10 in the building infrastructure 28. The central unit 16is communicatively coupled to the base station 18 to receive downlinkcommunications signals 20D from the base station 18. The central unit 16is communicatively coupled to the remote antenna units 14 to receive theuplink communications signals 20U from the remote antenna units 14, aspreviously discussed above. The downlink and uplink communicationssignals 20D, 20U communicated between the central unit 16 and the remoteantenna units 14 are carried over a riser cable 32. The riser cable 32may be routed through interconnect units (ICUs) 34(1)-34(3) dedicated toeach floor 30(1)-30(3) that route the downlink and uplink communicationssignals 20D, 20U to the remote antenna units 14 and also provide powerto the remote antenna units 14 via array cables 36(1)-36(6).

The DAS 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a given capacity. In other words, theDAS 12 is configured to support a given number of client devices 26 andan overall data rate for the downlink and uplink communications signals20D, 20U. This capacity is based on the capacity of the equipmentprovided in the DAS 12 and the base station 18. As the popularity ofclient devices continues to increase, the number of client devices 26that may need to be supported by the DAS 12 may also increase. Further,as technology progresses, the average data rate demand per client device26 is also likely to increase. To satisfy these increased capacitydemands, the DAS 12 may be configured to provide additional capacitybeyond the capacity need when the DAS 12 is initially installed.However, this provides an inefficient use of resources in the DAS 12that may not be utilized for some time to come. However, if the initialcapacity of the DAS 12 is limited to the initial capacity requirements,the equipment in the DAS 12 will need to be upgraded and/or replaced tosupport additional capacity requirements in the future. Further, thecapacity demands in certain remote coverage areas 10 in the DAS 12 maybe greater than in other remote coverage areas 10. If the capacity ofthe DAS 12 is increased to respond to the remote coverage areas 10 withincreased capacity requirements, other remote coverage areas 10 that donot require the increased capacity are also provided with increasedcapacity, which can affect the DAS's 12 ability to provide increasedcapacity to targeted remote coverage areas 10.

No admission is made that any reference cited herein constitutes priorart. Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge the accuracyand pertinency of any cited documents.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein include distributed antenna systems (DASs)supporting expanded, programmable communications services distributionto remote communications service sector areas. Related devices andmethods are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the DAS is configured toreceive downlink communications signals for one or more communicationsservices from one or more base stations. The communications services caninclude voice and non-voice data, as non-limiting examples. The DASincludes a first programmable switch for distributing the downlinkcommunications signals into one or more communications service sectorsets, which are sets or subsets of all received communications services,according to a programmable configuration for the first configurableswitch. The DAS further includes a second programmable switch configuredto distribute the one or more communications service sector sets to oneor more remote antenna unit groupings to form one or more remotecommunications service sector areas, according to a programmableconfiguration for the second configurable switch. In this manner, as anexample, the DAS can be programmed and expanded to distribute thedesired communications service sector set or sets to the desired remotecommunications service sector area or areas, based on the capacity needsand capacity capability of the DAS. The communications service sectorset may also be defined as a communications sub-service since it mayinclude a subset of the communications services distributed by the DAS.

For example, if more coverage areas are desired to be provided in theDAS for a given communications service, the first and secondprogrammable switches in the DAS can be programmed or reprogrammed toprovide such communications services to additional remote communicationsservice sector areas. As another example, if it is desired to providegreater capacity at a given remote communications service sector area inthe DAS, the first and second programmable switches in the DAS can beprogrammed or reprogrammed for another communications service orservices to be distributed to the remote communications service sectorarea to make use of the capacity of the communication service sector setat the given service sector area.

Further, in certain embodiments disclosed herein, one or moreconfigurable extender modules can also be provided in the DAS to provideexpanded routing of communications service sector sets in the DAS. Forexample, a configurable extender module may be provided in the DAS todivide the one or more communications service sector sets into one ormore expanded communications service sector sets to be distributed tothe remote communications service sector areas. As another example, theconfigurable extender module may also be provided in the DAS to receiveand combine received communications services from different basestations into common remote communications service sector areas in theDAS. In this manner, the DAS is programmable to allow any combination ofcommunications service sector sets and expanded communications servicesector sets from any number of different base stations to be routed toany combination of remote communications service sector areas andexpanded remote communications service areas in the DAS.

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a DAS configured to supportexpanded, programmable communications services distribution to remotecommunications service sector areas. The DAS comprises a central unitconfigured to distribute downlink communications signals to a pluralityof remote antenna units over at least one communications medium. Each ofthe plurality of remote antenna units are configured to receive downlinkcommunications signals from the central unit over the at least onecommunications medium, each of the plurality of remote antenna unitscomprise at least one antenna configured to wirelessly distribute thereceived downlink communications signals. The central unit is configuredto receive a downlink communications signal among a plurality ofdownlink communications signals, for a communications service among oneor more communications services from at least one base station. Thecentral unit also comprises at least one first programmable switch. Theat least one first programmable switch is configured to receive theplurality of downlink communications signals. The at least one firstprogrammable switch is also configured to switch the plurality ofdownlink communications signals into one or more downlink communicationsservice sector sets, based on a first programmable configuration for theat least one first programmable switch. The central unit also comprisesan extender module. The extender module is configured to receive the oneor more downlink communications service sector sets. The extender moduleis also configured to extend the received one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets into one or more extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets based on a configuration of theextender module. The central unit is also comprised of at least onesecond programmable switch. The at least one second programmable switchis configured to receive the one or more extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets. The at least one second programmableswitch is also configured to switch the received one or more extendeddownlink communications service sector sets into one or more remotecommunications service areas each comprised of a subset of the pluralityof remote antenna units, based on a second programmable configurationfor the at least one second programmable switch.

Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method fordistributing expanded, programmable communications services to remotecommunications service sector areas in a distributed antenna system(DAS). The method comprises receiving a plurality of downlinkcommunications signals for one or more communications services from atleast one base station. The method also comprises switching theplurality of downlink communications signals into one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets in at least one first programmableswitch, based on a first programmable configuration for the at least onefirst programmable switch. The method also comprises extending thereceived one or more downlink communications service sector sets intoone or more extended downlink communications service sector sets basedon a configuration for an extender module. The method also comprisesswitching the received one or more extended downlink communicationsservice sector sets into one or more remote communications service areasin at least one second programmable switch, based on a secondprogrammable configuration for the at least one second programmableswitch, each of the one or more remote communications service areascomprised of a subset of a plurality of remote antenna units in the DAS.The method also comprises distributing each of the one or more extendeddownlink communications service sector sets into their switched remotecommunications service area among the one or more remote communicationsservice areas.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part, will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from the description or recognized bypracticing the embodiments as described in the written description andclaims hereof, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are merely exemplary, and areintended to provide an overview or framework to understand the natureand character of the claims.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles andoperation of the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antenna system(DAS) capable of distributing radio frequency (RF) communicationsservices to client devices;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of an exemplarybuilding infrastructure in which the DAS in FIG. 1 can be employed;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical fiber-based DASconfigured to provide RF communications services and/or digital dataservices over optical fiber to remote antenna units;

FIG. 4 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the optical-fiber basedDAS in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a logical diagram of the DAS in FIG. 3 illustrating a firstprogrammable switching matrix in a central unit configured to dividedownlink communications signals into one or more communications servicesector sets that are extended by an extender module to expandedcommunications service sector sets provided to additional secondprogrammable switching matrices to distribute the expandedcommunications service sector sets to expanded remote antenna unitgroupings to form expanded remote communications service sector areas inthe DAS;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating more detail of the firstprogrammable switching matrix in the DAS in FIG. 5 configured to dividethe received communications services into different communicationsservice sector sets, and a second programmable switching matrixconfigured to distribute the expanded communications service sector setsto the expanded remote communications service sector areas;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a building divided into three (3) areaswhere each area is served by certain communications service sector setsin designated remote communications service sector areas in the DAS inFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a logical diagram of the DAS in FIG. 5 configured to providethe communications service sector sets in the designated remotecommunications service sector areas in the DAS according to the remotecommunications service sector configuration in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a logical diagram of a DAS with an additional firstprogrammable switching matrix configured to divide additional receivedcommunications services into additional different communications servicesector sets to provide expanded communications service sector sets, andan additional extender module configured to route the expandedcommunications service sector sets to the second programmable switchingmatrix configured to distribute the expanded communications servicesector sets to the remote communications service sector areas;

FIG. 10 is a logical diagram of the DAS in FIG. 9, configureddifferently, wherein the extender module is shown routing communicationsservice sector sets provided from both first programmable switchingmatrices to the same remote communications service sector areas;

FIG. 11 is a logical diagram of a DAS with the additional secondprogrammable switching matrix in FIG. 5, the additional firstprogrammable switching matrix in FIG. 9, and an extender moduleconfigured to route the expanded communications service sector setsprovided by the first programmable switching matrices to the secondprogrammable switching matrices configured to distribute the expandedcommunications service sector sets to the expanded additional remoteantenna unit groupings to form expanded remote communications servicesector areas; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a generalized representation of anexemplary controller that can be included in any central unit, remoteunits, wireless client devices, and/or any other components of a DAS toprovide control of the signal generation modules disclosed herein toprovide for reference signal generation redundancy, wherein theexemplary computer system is adapted to execute instructions from anexemplary computer readable medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will be further clarified by the following examples.

Examples of distributed antenna systems (DASs) supporting expanded,programmable communications services distribution to remotecommunications service sector areas are discussed below starting at FIG.5. Before discussing these examples of DASs supporting expanded,programmable communications services distribution to remotecommunications service sector areas, an exemplary DAS 40 configured toprovide RF communications services and/or digital data services toremote antenna units is first described with regard to FIGS. 3 and 4.Digital data services may be those that are digitized within the DAS 40.As will be discussed below, the DAS 40 in FIGS. 3 and 4 does not supportcommunications services distribution to remote communications servicesector areas.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary optical fiber-basedDAS 40 that may be employed according to the embodiments disclosedherein to provide communications services. In this embodiment, theoptical fiber-based DAS 40 includes optical fiber for distributingcommunications services. The optical fiber-based DAS 40 in thisembodiment is comprised of three (3) main components. One or more radiointerfaces provided in the form of radio interface modules (RIMs)42(1)-42(M) in this embodiment are provided in a central unit 44 toreceive and process downlink electrical communications signals46D(1)-46D(R) prior to optical conversion into downlink opticalcommunications signals. The RIMs 42(1)-42(M) provide both downlink anduplink interfaces. The notations “1-R” and “1-M” indicate that anynumber of the referenced component, 1-R and 1-M, respectively, may beprovided. The central unit 44 is configured to accept the plurality ofRIMs 42(1)-42(M) as modular components that can easily be installed andremoved or replaced in the central unit 44. In one embodiment, thecentral unit 44 is configured to support up to twelve (12) RIMs42(1)-42(12).

Each RIM 42(1)-42(M) can be designed to support a particular type ofradio source or range of radio sources (i.e., frequencies) to provideflexibility in configuring the central unit 44 and the opticalfiber-based DAS 40 to support the desired radio sources. For example,one RIM 42 may be configured to support the Personal CommunicationServices (PCS) radio band. Another RIM 42 may be configured to supportthe 700 MHz radio band. In this example, by inclusion of these RIMs 42,the central unit 44 could be configured to support and distributecommunications signals on both PCS and LTE 700 radio bands, as anexample. RIMs 42 may be provided in the central unit 44 that support anyfrequency bands desired, including but not limited to the US Cellularband, Personal Communication Services (PCS) band, Advanced WirelessServices (AWS) band, 700 MHz band, Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM) 900, GSM 1800, and Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS). The RIMs 42 may also be provided in thecentral unit 44 that support any wireless technologies desired,including but not limited to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),CDMA200, 1×RTT, Evolution—Data Only (EV-DO), UMTS, High-speed PacketAccess (HSPA), GSM, General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced DataGSM Environment (EDGE), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Long TermEvolution (LTE), iDEN, and Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD).

The RIMs 42 may be provided in the central unit 44 that support anyfrequencies desired, including but not limited to US FCC and IndustryCanada frequencies (824-849 MHz on uplink and 869-894 MHz on downlink),US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1850-1915 MHz on uplink and1930-1995 MHz on downlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies(1710-1755 MHz on uplink and 2110-2155 MHz on downlink), US FCCfrequencies (698-716 MHz and 776-787 MHz on uplink and 728-746 MHz ondownlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (880-915 MHz on uplink and 925-960 MHzon downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (1710-1785 MHz on uplink and1805-1880 MHz on downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (1920-1980 MHz onuplink and 2110-2170 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (806-824 MHzon uplink and 851-869 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (896-901 MHzon uplink and 929-941 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (793-805 MHzon uplink and 763-775 MHz on downlink), and US FCC frequencies(2495-2690 MHz on uplink and downlink).

The downlink electrical communications signals 46D(1)-46D(R) areprovided to a plurality of optical interfaces provided in the form ofoptical interface modules (OIMs) 48(1)-48(N) in this embodiment toconvert the downlink electrical communications signals 46D(1)-46D(R)into downlink optical communications signals 50D(1)-50D(R). The notation“1-N” indicates that any number of the referenced component 1-N may beprovided. The OIMs 48 may be configured to provide one or more opticalinterface components (OICs) that contain optical to electrical (O/E) andelectrical to optical (E/O) converters, as will be described in moredetail below. The OIMs 48 support the radio bands that can be providedby the RIMs 42, including the examples previously described above. Thus,in this embodiment, the OIMs 48 may support a radio band range from 400MHz to 2700 MHz, as an example.

The OIMs 48(1)-48(N) each include E/O converters to convert the downlinkelectrical communications signals 46D(1)-46D(R) into the downlinkoptical communications signals 50D(1)-50D(R). The downlink opticalcommunications signals 50D(1)-50D(R) are communicated over downlinkoptical fiber(s) 52D to a plurality of remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P).The notation “1-P” indicates that any number of the referenced component1-P may be provided. O/E converters provided in the remote antenna units54(1)-54(P) convert the downlink optical communications signals50D(1)-50D(R) back into the downlink electrical communications signals46D(1)-46D(R), which are provided to antennas 58(1)-58(P) in the remoteantenna units 54(1)-54(P) to client devices in the reception range ofthe antennas 58(1)-58(P).

E/O converters are also provided in the remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P)to convert uplink electrical communications signals 60U(1)-60U(P)received from client devices through the antennas 58(1)-58(P) intouplink optical communications signals 50U(1)-50U(P) to be communicatedover uplink optical fibers 52U to the OIMs 48(1)-48(N). The OIMs48(1)-48(N) include O/E converters that convert the uplink opticalcommunications signals 50U(1)-50U(P) into uplink electricalcommunications signals 62U(1)-62U(P) that are processed by the RIMs42(1)-42(M) and provided as uplink electrical communications signals62U(1)-62U(P).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of providing communications servicesbetween base stations 63(1)-63(T) and the remote antenna units54(1)-54(P) in the optical fiber-based DAS 40 of FIG. 3. Commoncomponents between FIGS. 3 and 4 have the same element numbers and thuswill not be re-described. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a power supplymodule (PSM) 64 may be provided to provide power to the RIMs 42(1)-42(M)and radio distribution modules in the form of radio distribution cards(RDCs) 66 that distribute the communications signals from the RIMs42(1)-42(M) to the OIMs 48(1)-48(N) through radio distribution modulesin the form of RDCs 68. A network interface 72, which may include weband network management system (NMS) interfaces, may also be provided toallow configuration and communication to the RIMs 42(1)-42(M) and othercomponents of the optical fiber-based DAS 40. A microcontroller,microprocessor, or other control circuitry, called a head-end controller(HEC) 74 may be included in central unit 44 to provide controloperations for the central unit 44 and the remote antenna units54(1)-54(P). ICUs 76 may be provided for a remote antenna unit 54 orgrouping of remote antenna units 54 to provide power in cable(s)carrying the downlink optical fiber(s) 52D and the uplink opticalfiber(s) 52U.

The DAS 40 in FIGS. 3 and 4 is configured to provide a given capacity interms of a supported number of client devices and communications datarate. This capacity is based on the user and data rate capacity of theequipment provided in the DAS 40. As the popularity of wireless clientdevices continues to increase, the number of wireless client devicesthat the DAS 40 may need to support may also increase. To support thecoverage of additional areas, a greater number of remote antenna units54 can be provided in the DAS 40 to provide additional remote coveragearea and/or provide greater concentrations of remote coverage areas. Tosatisfy the increased capacity demands, the DAS 40 in FIGS. 3 and 4 maybe configured to provide additional capacity to each of the remoteantenna units 54(1)-54(P). However, some remote coverage areas of theDAS 40 may be less populated than other remote coverage areas, and thushave different capacity demands. If the DAS 40 is configured to provideincreased capacity in each of the remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P), thecapacity in some remote coverage areas will be underutilized.

In this regard, as will be discussed in more detail below, FIG. 5illustrates an exemplary central unit 80(1) of a DAS 82(1) configured tosupport expanded, programmable communications services distribution toremote communications service areas 83. The remote units of the DAS82(1) are not shown in FIG. 5 for convenience of the illustration only.In this example, the remote communications service areas comprisesremote communications service areas 83(1)-83(3), 83(R) and expandedremote communications service areas 83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R). In thisexample, the total number of remote communications service areas 83, issix (6), which is comprised of three (3) remote communications serviceareas 83(1)-83(3) and three (3) expanded remote communications serviceareas 83E(1)-83E(3). Remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4) areprovided in each remote communications service area 83(1)-83(3), 83(R)and expanded remote communications service area 83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R) todistributed the expanded, programmable communications services in theremote communications service areas 83(1)-83(3), 83(R) and83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R). In this regard, the central unit 80(1) in FIG. 5is configured to receive downlink communications signals 84D for one ormore communications services from one or more base stations 86(1)-86(Q),wherein ‘Q’ can be any number of base stations. In this example, thereare four (4) base stations 86(1)-86(4). Each base station 86(1)-86(4) inthis example has three (3) RIMs 88(1)(1)-88(4)(3) for total of twelve(12) RIMs 88 provided among the four (4) base stations 86(1)-86(4) inthis non-limiting example. Each RIM 88(1)(1)-88(4)(3) is configured toprovide a respective downlink communications signal 84D(1)-84D(4). As anexample, the downlink communications signals 84D(1)-84D(4) may beradio-frequency (RF) signals that support one or more RF communicationsservices, digital signals that support one or more digital datacommunications services, or any combination thereof.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, in this example, the downlinkcommunications signals 84D are downlink communications signals84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3), meaning that the respective base stations86(1)-86(4) are each configured to provide the downlink communicationssignals 84D(1)-84D(4) in three (3) different sectors designated asdownlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3). Each downlinkcommunications signal 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) for a given base station86(1)-86(4) may provide the same or a different communications service.For example, in this embodiment as an example, the downlinkcommunications signal 84D(1)(1) from base station 86(1) is sectorized.This is shown in FIG. 5 as S₁C₁ for a first communication service S₁ ina first sector C₁. Downlink communications signal 84D(1)(2) is also frombase station 86(1) and shown as S₁C₂ for the first communication serviceS₁ also in sector C₁. Downlink communications signal 84D(4)(3) is alsofrom base station 86(4) and shown as S₄C₃ for a fourth communicationservice S₄ in sector C₃. Note that it is also possible that the receiveddownlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) may not besectorized by the base stations 86(1)-86(4). In this example, thedownlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) from the respectivebase stations 86(1)-86(4) are shown as S₁C₁, S₁C₂, S₁C₃, S₂C₁, S₂C₂, . .. , S₄C₂, S₄C₃ representing four (4) different communication services,namely the first, second, third, and fourth communications servicesS₁-S₄, provided over three (3) different sectors, namely the first,second and third sectors C₁-C₃. The communication services S₁-S₄ may bethe same or different communication services.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, the downlink communications signals84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) can be specifically directed to the desired remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3), 83(R) and expanded remotecommunications service areas 83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R) based on the capacityneeds and capacity capability of the DAS 82(1). This is opposed to theDAS 40 in FIG. 3 only having the capability of equally distributing thedownlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) to all remoteantenna units. Thus, the central unit 80(1) in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5takes advantage of the receipt of downlink communications signals84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) provided by the base stations 86(1)-86(4) todistribute the downlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) indesired communications service sector set or sets to the remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3), 83(R) and expanded remotecommunications service areas 83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R) in the DAS 82(1).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5 and discussed in more detail below, afirst programmable switch 90(1) is configured to switch the downlinkcommunications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) into one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(R). ‘R’ is equal to three(3) in this example based on a first programmable configuration for thefirst programmable switch 90(1). The first programmable switch 90(1) iscomprised of a first programmable switching matrix 92(1) and a pluralityof first radio distribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3), 94(1)(R). Thefirst programmable switching matrix 92(1) is configured to receive andswitch selected downlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) tothe first radio distribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3) based on a firstprogrammable configuration for the first programmable switching matrix92(1). The programmable configuration for the first programmableswitching matrix 92(1) is based on how the downlink communicationssignals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) are desired to be sectorized fordistribution to the remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4). Thefirst programmable switching matrix 92(1) is configured to distributethe downlink communications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3), 96D(R) todifferent first radio distribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3). In thisexample, three (3) first radio distribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3)support up to three unique combinations of downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D. Thus, the number of first radio distributionmodules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3) determines the number of unique sectors thatcan be provided in the DAS 82. The downlink communications servicesector sets 96D(1)-96D(3), 96D(R) may also be defined as acommunications sub-service since it may include a subset of thecommunications services distributed by the DAS 82(1). The first radiodistribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3) are each configured to receive adownlink communications service sector set 96D according to theswitching and combining provided the first programmable switching matrix92(1) be distributed to an extender module 98(1) to allow the downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3), 96D(R) to bedistributed to remote communications service area 83 and expanded remotecommunications service area 83E. Thus, as described above, each of theremote communications service areas 83, 83E can transmit a uniquecombination of service sectors of S₁C₁-S₄C₃. In this example, the uniquecombination of service sectors possible is defined by R!, where R is thenumber of RDCs 94.

Note that the first programmable switch 90(1) could be provided as partof a module that supports the RIMs 88 and not a separate module. Alsonote that the extender module 98(1) is not limited to a single module.The functionality of the extender module 98(1) could be provided inmultiple sub-extender modules, where each sub-extender module isconfigured to distribute certain of the downlink communications servicesector sets 96D(1)-96D(3), 96D(R) to remote communications service area83 and expanded remote communications service area 83E. The extendermodule 98(1) in FIG. 5 will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 6 illustrates more detail of the first programmable switchingmatrix 92(1) in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5 to further explain its operationby example. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first programmable switchingmatrix 92(1) can be programmed to combine the downlink communicationssignals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) into three distinct downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3), 96D(R). Each of the downlinkcommunications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) are coupled to a respectivefirst switch bank 97(1)(1)-97(1)(3) comprised of a plurality of switchesfor each first radio distribution module 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3), 94(1)(R),respectively, wherein ‘R’ can represent any number of radio distributionmodule desired. The switch banks 97(1)(1)-97(1)(3) of first programmableswitching matrix 92(1) could reside physically in respective RIMs88(1)-88(Q), as a non-limiting example. The first switch bank97(1)(1)-97(1)(3) can be programmable to cause a switch therein toselect which downlink communications signals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) will beselected to be distributed to their respective first radio distributionmodule 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3). In this manner, the first programmableswitching matrix 92(1) and its first switch banks 97(1)(1)-97(1)(3) canbe switched to select which set or subset of the downlink communicationssignals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3) will be provided in the service sector setthat each first radio distribution module 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3) will provideand distribute in the DAS 82(1) shown in FIG. 5.

In this example of the first programmable switch 92(1) in FIGS. 5 and 6,the first switch bank 97(1)(1) is programmed to select the downlinkcommunications signals 84D(1)(3), 84D(2)(3), 84D(3)(3), and 84D(4)(3),which are all sector 3 downlink communications signals from the basestations 86(1)-86(4) to be distributed to the first radio distributionmodule 94(1)(1). The first switch bank 97(1)(2) is programmed to selectthe downlink communications signals 84D(1)(2), 84D(2)(2), 84D(3)(2), and84D(4)(2), which are all sector 2 downlink communications signals fromthe base stations 86(1)-86(4) to be distributed to the first radiodistribution module 94(1)(2). The first switch bank 97(1)(3) isprogrammed to select the downlink communications signals 84D(1)(1),84D(2)(1), 84D(3)(1), and 84D(4)(1), which are all sector 1 downlinkcommunications signals from the base stations 86(1)-86(4) to bedistributed to the first radio distribution module 94(1)(3). Note thatany other selection configurations for the downlink communicationssignals 84D(1)(1)-84D(4)(3), balanced or unbalanced, could be provided.A balanced selection means that the same number of downlinkcommunications signals 84D are switched by each of the first switchbanks 97(1)(1)-97(1)(3) in the first programmable switching matrix92(1).

With reference back to FIG. 5, the extender module 98(1) is configuredto receive the downlink communications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3)from the first radio distribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3). Theextender module 98(1) is also configured to extend the downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) into one or moreextended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(R) based on a configuration of the extender module98(1). The extender module 98(1) is configured to extend or expand thethree (3) downlink communications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) intoa larger number of extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2), 96D(E)(R) to be able to extend the downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) to a greater number ofremote communications service sector sets.

In this regard, in this example with reference to FIG. 5, there are six(6) total extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1), 96D(E)(1)(2), 96D(E)(2)(1), 96D(E)(2)(2), 96D(E)(3)(1),96D(E)(3)(2), that can each be provided to a respective remotecommunications service area 83(1)-83(3), 83E(1)-83E(3). However, notethat if a DAS that allows for the downlink communications service sectorsets 96D(1)-96D(3), 96D(R) to be distributed to more than six (6) remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3) and 83E(1)-83E(3) is desired,the extender module 98(1) is provided with this capability.

In this regard, with continuing reference to FIG. 5, the extender module98(1) contains three (3) extender splitters 102(1)-102(3). As will bediscussed in more detail below, the extender splitters 102(1)-102(3) mayalso include combiners for combining uplink communications signals. Thethree (3) extender splitters 102(1)-102(3) are configured to extend therespective received downlink communications service sector sets96D(1)-96D(3). The three (3) extender splitters 102(1)-102(3) arefurther configured to split the received one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) into a plurality of theextended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) based on the configuration of the extendermodule 98(1). In this example, each extender splitter 102(1)-102(3) isconfigured to split the respective received downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) into two extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1), 96D(E)(1)(2);96D(E)(2)(1), 96D(E)(2)(2); and 96D(E)(3)(1), 96D(E)(3)(2),respectively, for a total of six extended downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2). Each extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) is providedto a respective extender distribution module 104(1)-104(6) based on theconfiguration of the extender module 98(1). In this example, there aresix (6) extender distribution modules 104(1)-104(6) to be able toprovide the extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) to up to six (6) different remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3) and 83E(1)-83E(3), based on aconfiguration of the extender module 98(1).

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, to distribute the extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) to thedesired remote communications service area 83(1)-83(3) or expandedremote communications service area 83E(1)-83E(3) in the DAS 82(1), asecond programmable switch 90(2) is provided in the DAS 82(1). Thesecond programmable switch 90(2) is configured to receive the extendeddownlink communications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2)from the extender module 98(1). The second programmable switch 90(2) isfurther configured to switch the received extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2), or acombination thereof, to one or more remote communications service areas83(1)-83(3), 83(R) or expanded remote communications service areas83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R), each having one or more remote antenna units54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4). Each remote antenna unit 54(1)-54(P)distributes the received respective extended downlink communicationsservice sector set 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) in the DAS 82(1). In thisexample, extended downlink communications service sector set96D(E)(1)(1) is provided to remote communications service area 83(1).Extended downlink communications service sector set 96D(E)(2)(1) isprovided to remote communications service area 83(2). Extended downlinkcommunications service sector set 96D(E)(3)(1) is provided to remotecommunications service area 83(3), and so on as shown in FIG. 5.However, note that this example is not limiting. As will be discussed inmore detail below, the second programmable switch 90(2) can beprogrammed to distribute the extended downlink communications servicesector set 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) to any of the remote communicationsservice areas 83(1)-83(3), 83(R) or expanded remote communicationsservice areas 83E(1)-83E(3), 83E(R), as desired.

More particularly, with continuing reference to FIG. 5, the secondprogrammable switch 90(2) in this example, is comprised of a pluralityof second radio distribution modules 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3), 101(1)(R) and101(2)(1)-101(2)(3), 101(2)(R). In this example, the total number ofsecond radio distribution modules 101 is six (6), the same number as thenumber of extender distribution modules 104(1)-104(6). This is so thatthe second programmable switch 90(2) is capable of receiving andswitching each of the extended downlink communications service sectorsets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) independently from each other to thedesired remote communications service areas 83(1)-83(3) and83E(1)-83E(3) in this example. The second radio distribution modules101(1)(1)-101(2)(3), are each configured to receive a respectiveextended downlink communications service sector set96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) from the extender module 98(1). The secondradio distribution modules 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) and 101(2)(1)-101(2)(3)are also each configured to distribute the received extended downlinkcommunications service sector set 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) to arespective second programmable switching matrix 100(1), 100(2) to bedistributed to the desired remote communications service area83(1)-83(3) and 83E(1)-83E(3), as discussed below.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, the number of second programmableswitching matrices 100(1), 100(2) is two (2) in this example. This isbecause each second programmable switching matrix 100(1), 100(2) isconfigured to support up to three (3) remote communication service areas83 or three (3) expanded remote communications service areas 83E,respectively. Thus, in this example, the second programmable switchingmatrix 100(1) supports remote communication service areas 83(1)-83(3),and the second programmable switching matrix 100(2) supports expandedremote communication service areas 83E(1)-83E(3). Each secondprogrammable switching matrix 100(1), 100(2) is configured to receivethree (3) extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) from a respective radio distribution module101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) and 101(2)(1)-101(2)(3) and switch the receivedextended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) to the desired remote communications servicearea 83(1)-83(3), 83E(1)-83E(3) based on the second programmableconfiguration for the second programmable switching matrices 100(1),100(2).

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, in this example, the secondprogrammable switching matrices 100(1), 100(2) are coupled to respectiveoptional, optical interface modules (OIMs) 106(1), 106(2). The OIMs106(1), 106(2) may be provided in an optical interface unit (OIU) aspart of the central unit 80(1) in one example. Further, the splitters102(1)-102(R) of the extender module 98(1) can be split within thecentral unit 80(1) to be disposed in a head-end unit (HEU), and theextender distribution modules 104(1)-104(X) can be disposed in anoptical interface unit (OIU). The OIMs 106(1), 106(2) are configured toconvert the extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) into respective optical extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2), which arethen distributed over respective optical fiber 108(1), 108(2) (e.g.,within fiber optic cable) to the remote communications service areas83(1)-83(3) and expanded remote communications service areas83E(1)-83E(3). In this regard, the DAS 82(1) in this example in FIG. 5is an optical fiber-based DAS. Each OIM 106(1), 106(2) supports a remoteantenna unit 54(1)-54(P) in a remote communications service area 83 andexpanded remote communications service area 83E, respectively. Theremote antenna units 54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4) in the remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3) and 83E(1)-83E(3) are capableof converting the received optical extended downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) back into electricalsignals. In this example, each second programmable switching matrix100(1), 100(2) is configured to interface with twelve (12) OIMs 106,wherein four (4) OIMs are dedicated to a remote communications servicearea 83(1)-83(3) or expanded remote communications service area83E(1)-83E(3). Thus, each of the remote communications service areas83(1)-83(3) and expanded remote communications service areas83E(1)-83E(3) in this example support up to four (4) remote antennaunits 54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4). Note that the second programmable switch100(1) could be provided as part of the OIMs 106 and not a separatemodule, as one example.

Thus, by providing the extender module 98(1) in the example of FIG. 5,linear expansion of a DAS 82(1) is possible by being able to connect anynumber of sets of OIMs 106(1)-106(X) to any number of RIMs 88(1)-88(Q)to provide any number of communication service sector sets. The extendermodule 98(1) allows the number of communications service sector sets96D, 96U to be expanded and increased as desired for flexibility. Notethat the extender module 98(1) in FIG. 5 is shown as a logical diagram.The extender module 98(1) could comprise more than one extender modulewhere the ports of the extender splitters 102(1)-102(3) and the extenderdistribution module 104(1)-104(6) distributed among multiple extendermodules.

Also note that an optional programmable switching matrix 95 could beprovided in the extender module 98(1) in FIG. 5 to allow any extendersplitter 102(1)-102(3) to extend the respective received downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) to any extenderdistribution module 104(1)-104(6). In this manner, specific fixedcabling connections would not be required between the extender splitters102(1)-102(3) and the extender distribution modules 104(1)-104(6). If itis desired to extend respective received downlink communications servicesector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) to different OIMs 106, the programmableswitching matrix 95 could be programmed or reprogrammed to change therouting of the received downlink communications service sector sets96D(1)-96D(3) from the extender splitters 102(1)-102(3) to extenderdistribution modules 104(1)-104(6) in the extender module 98(1). Theprogrammable switching matrix 95 could be provided as part of theextender splitters 102(1)-102(3), the extender distribution modules104(1)-104(6), or as a standalone module.

FIG. 6 also illustrates more detail of the second programmable switchingmatrix 100(1) in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5 that supports the remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3) to further explain itsoperation by example. The second programmable switching matrix 100(2)that supports the expanded remote communications service areas83E(1)-83E(3) is not shown in FIG. 6, but its operation is similar tothe operation of the second programmable switching matrix 100(1).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second programmable switching matrix100(1) can be programmed to switch the extended downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D(E)(1)-96D(E)(3) received from the extendermodule 98(1) to a respective OIM 106(1). The selected OIM 106(1)controls which remote communications service area 83 and remote antennaunit 54 (see FIG. 4) within the remote communications service area 83that the given extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1) is distributed. Each of the extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1) are coupledto a respective second radio distribution module 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3).Each second radio distribution module 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) has arespective second switch 103(1)(1)-103(1)(3). The second switches103(1)(1)-103(1)(3) of the second programmable switching matrices100(1), 100(2) could reside physically in respective OIMs 106(1),106(2), as a non-limiting example. The second switches103(1)(1)-103(1)(3) can be programmable to select which extendeddownlink communications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1)will be selected to be distributed to their respective OIMs 106(1). Inthis manner, the second programmable switching matrix 100(1) and itssecond switches 103(1)(1)-103(1)(3) can be switched to select which setor subset of the extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1) will be provided in the sector that eachsecond radio distribution module 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) supports in the DAS82(1).

In this example of the second programmable switch 100(1) in FIGS. 5 and6, the second switch 103(1)(1) is programmed to select the extendeddownlink communications service sector set 96D(E)(1)(1) to bedistributed to the remote communications service area 83(1). The secondswitch 103(1)(2) is programmed to select extended downlinkcommunications service sector set 96D(E)(2)(1) to be distributed to theremote communications service area 83(2). The second switch 103(1)(3) isprogrammed to select extended downlink communications service sector set96D(E)(3)(1) to be distributed to the remote communications service area83(3). Further, the ability of the second switches 103(1)(1)-103(1)(3)to switch any of the extended downlink communications service sectorsets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1) on a per OIM 106(1) basis allows anycombination of the extended downlink communications service sector sets96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1) to be provided to any remote antenna unit54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4).

Note that the second programmable switching matrix 100(1) also allowsany other configurations for selecting which extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(1) aresupported in which remote communication service areas 83 or extendedremote communications service areas 83E. For example, an extendeddownlink communications service sector set 96D(E) could be distributedto both the remote communications service area 83 and the extendedremote communications service areas 83E, or a plurality of anycombination thereof. For example, FIG. 7 is an exemplary building 110illustrating exemplary remote communication service areas 83(1)-83(3)providing certain communications service sector sets 96 therein for theDAS 82(1) in FIG. 5. The first and second programmable switchingmatrices 90(1), 100(1) are configured so that the remote communicationservice area 83(1) supports extended downlink communications servicesector set 96D(E)(3)(1), which corresponds to downlink communicationsservice sector set 96D(3). Remote communication service area 83(2)supports extended downlink communications service sector set96D(E)(2)(1), which corresponds to downlink communications servicesector set 96D(2). However, remote communication service area 83(3)supports two extended downlink communications service sector sets,96D(E)(1)(1) and 96D(E)(3)(1), which corresponds to downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1) and 96D(3), respectively. FIG.8 also shows the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5, but configured with acommunications service sector configuration as provided in FIG. 7.Additionally, the extended remote communications service area 83E(3) isalso shown as supporting two extended downlink communications servicesector sets, 96D(E)(1)(2) and 96D(E)(3)(2), which also corresponds todownlink communications service sector sets 96D(1) and 96D(3),respectively. Thus, the remote communications service area 83(3) andextended remote communications service area 83E(3) in the DAS 82(1) inFIG. 8 supports the same downlink communications service sector sets,downlink communications service sector sets 96D(1) and 96D(3), andsupport the same sectorization in this example.

The DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5 also supports distributing uplink communicationssignals from the remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4) to thecentral unit 80(1) to be provided to the base stations 86(1)-84(4). Inthis regard, the second programmable switching matrices 100(1), 100(2)can also be provided that are capable of receiving uplink communicationssignals 112U from remote antenna units 54(1)-54(P) (see FIG. 4). Thesecond programmable switching matrices 100(1), 100(2) can be configuredto switch the uplink communications signals 112U into extended uplinkcommunications service sector sets 96U(E)(1)(1)-96U(E)(3)(2) to bedistributed to respective second radio distribution modules101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) and 101(2)(1)-101(2)(3), based on the programmedconfiguration for the second programmable switching matrices 100(1),100(2). In one example, the second programmable switching matrices100(1), 100(2) are programmed to switch the received uplinkcommunications signals 112U into extended uplink communications servicesector sets 96U(E)(1)(1)-96U(E)(3)(2) to be distributed to the samesecond radio distribution modules 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) and101(2)(1)-101(2)(3) as the second programmable switching matrices100(1), 100(2) are programmed to receive the extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)(1)-96D(E)(3)(2) from thesecond radio distribution modules 101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) and101(2)(1)-101(2)(3). The second radio distribution modules101(1)(1)-101(1)(3) and 101(2)(1)-101(2)(3) are configured to distributethe extended uplink communications service sector sets96U(E)(1)(1)-96U(E)(3)(2) to respective extender distribution modules104(1)-104(6). The extender distribution modules 104(1)-104(6) providethe extended uplink communications service sector sets96U(E)(1)(1)-96U(E)(3)(2) to the extender splitters 102(1)-102(3), whichare also configured as extender combiners in this embodiment to combinethe received extended uplink communications service sector sets96U(E)(1)(1)-96U(E)(3)(2) into uplink communications service sector sets96U(1)-96U(3).

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, the radio distribution modules94(1)(1)-94(1)-(3) in the first programmable switch 90(1) are configuredto receive the uplink communications service sector sets 96U(1)-96U(3).The first programmable switching matrix 92(1) is configured to receivethe uplink communications service sector sets 96U(1)-96U(3) from theradio distribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(1)(3). The first programmableswitching matrix 92(1) is also configured to switch the received uplinkcommunications service sector sets 96U(1)-96U(3) into uplinkcommunications signals 84U, based on the programmable configuration forthe first programmable switching matrix 92(1). The uplink communicationssignals 84U can be distributed to the base stations 86(1)-86(4).

Other configurations of a DAS supporting expanded, programmablecommunications services distribution to remote communications servicesector areas can also be provided. For example, FIG. 9 is a logicaldiagram of the DAS 82(2) similar to the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5. However, anadditional first programmable switching matrix 92(2) is provided in theDAS 82(2). The additional first programmable switching matrix 92(2)allows the DAS 82(2) to receive additional downlink communicationssignals 84D(5)-84D(8) from additional base stations 86(5)-86(8) thateach also comprise three (3) RIMs 88(5)(1)-88(8)(3) for total oftwenty-four (24) RIMs 88. Thus, with three sectors for each base station86(1)-86(8), up to twenty-four (24) downlink communications signals 84Dcan be received by the DAS 82(2). Other components in the DAS 82(2) thatare the same as provided in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5 are illustrated inFIG. 9 with common element numbers with FIG. 5, and thus will not bere-described.

With continuing reference to FIG. 9, three additional radio distributionmodules 94(3)(1)-94(3)(3) are provided for a total of six (6) radiodistribution modules 94(1)(1)-94(3)(3). Thus, up to six (6) differentunique combinations of the downlink communications signals 84D(1)-84D(8)may be provided as up to six (6) downlink communications sector servicesets 96D(1)-96D(6). As previously discussed and illustrated in FIG. 9,the extender module 98(2) is shown in logical form and is configured toprovide the six (6) downlink communications sector service sets96D(1)-96D(6) as extended downlink communications sector service sets96D(E)(1)-96D(E)(6). The extended downlink communications sector servicesets 96D(E)(1)-96D(E)(6) can be distributed to the remote communicationsservice areas 83(1)-83(3). In this example, the second programmableswitch 90(2) only includes one (1) second programmable switching matrix100(1). Thus, the extended remote communications service areas83E(1)-83E(3) provided in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5 are not provided inthe DAS 82(2) in FIG. 9. Thus, in summary, in the DAS 82(2) in FIG. 9,the number of extended downlink communications sector service sets96D(E)(1)-96D(E)(6) is up to twice as many as provided in the DAS 82(1)in FIG. 5, but the number of remote communication service areas is halfas many as provided as provided in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5.

With continuing reference to FIG. 9, the first and second programmableswitching matrices 92(1), 92(2) and 100(1) in the DAS 82(2) in thisexample, are programmed such that extended distributed downlinkcommunications sector service sets 96D(E)(1) and 96D(E)(4) aredistributed to remote communications service area 83(1). Extendeddistributed downlink communications sector service sets 96D(E)(2) and96D(E)(5) are distributed to remote communications service area 83(2).Extended distributed downlink communications sector service sets96D(E)(3) and 96D(E)(6) are distributed to remote communications servicearea 83(3). A programmable switching matrix similar to the programmableswitching matrix 95 in the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5 could also be provided inthe extender module 98(2) in the DAS 82(2) in FIG. 9.

The communications service sector configuration provided in the DAS82(2) in FIG. 9 can be altered by programming the first and secondprogrammable switches 90(1), 90(2) to the desired configuration. Forexample, FIG. 10 also shows the DAS 82(2) in FIG. 8, but configured suchthat three downlink communications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) andthree downlink communications service sector sets 96D(4)-96D(6) areprovided to one respective radio distribution module 94(1)(3) and94(2)(3) in the first programmable switch 90(1). The downlinkcommunications service sector sets 96D(1)-96D(3) are provided to theextender module 98(2) and combined in extender distribution module104(1) to provide all downlink extended communications service sectorsets 96D(E)(1)-96D(E)(6) to radio distribution module 103(1) in thesecond programmable switch 90(2). Thus, all downlink communicationsservice sector sets 96D(1)-96D(6) can be provided to all remotecommunications service areas 83(1)-83(3) configured as a single sector.

FIG. 11 is a logical diagram of another DAS 82(3) that contains featurescontained in both the DAS 82(1) in FIG. 5, and the DAS 82(2) in FIG. 9.In the DAS 82(3) in FIG. 11, the first programmable switch 90(1)contains the two (2) first programmable switching matrices 92(1), 92(2)as provided in the DAS 82(2) in FIG. 9. Also, in the DAS 82(3) in FIG.11, the second programmable switch 90(2) contains the two (2) secondprogrammable switching matrices 100(1), 100(2) as provided in the DAS82(1) in FIG. 5. Thus, in the DAS 82(3) in FIG. 11, six (6) downlinkextended communications service sector sets 96D(E)(1)-96D(E)(6) that caneach contain all or a subset of the downlink communications signals84D(1)-84D(8), can be distributed in up to six (6) unique sectors to theremote communications service areas 83(1)-83(3) and extended remotecommunications service areas 83E(1)-83E(3). A programmable switchingmatrix similar to the programmable switching matrix 95 in the DAS 82(1)in FIG. 5 could also be provided in the extender module 98(3) in the DAS82(3) in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram representation of additional detailillustrating a computer system 120 that could be employed in theprogrammable switches 90 disclosed that are programmable to controlproviding the desired combination of communications service sector sets96 and extended communications service sector sets 96D(E) from anynumber of different base stations to be distributed to any combinationof desired remote communications service sector areas 83, based oncapacity needs and capability of the DAS. The control system 120 isadapted to execute instructions from an exemplary computer-readablemedium to perform these and/or any of the functions or processingdescribed herein.

In this regard, the computer system 120 in FIG. 12 may include a set ofinstructions that may be executed to program the desired combination ofcommunications service sector sets 96 and extended communicationsservice sector sets 96D(E) to be distributed to any combination ofdesired remote communications service sector areas 83, based on capacityneeds and capability of the DAS. The computer system 120 may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, anextranet, or the Internet. While only a single device is illustrated,the term “device” shall also be taken to include any collection ofdevices that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussedherein. The computer system 120 may be a circuit or circuits included inan electronic board card, such as, a printed circuit board (PCB), aserver, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a computing pad, a mobile device, orany other device, and may represent, for example, a server or a user'scomputer.

The exemplary computer system 120 in this embodiment includes aprocessing device or processor 122, a main memory 124 (e.g., read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), such assynchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 126 (e.g., flashmemory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicatewith each other via a data bus 128. Alternatively, the processor 122 maybe connected to the main memory 124 and/or static memory 126 directly orvia some other connectivity means. The processor 122 may be acontroller, and the main memory 124 or static memory 126 may be any typeof memory.

The processor 122 represents one or more general-purpose processingdevices, such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like.More particularly, the processor 122 may be a complex instruction setcomputing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing(RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW)microprocessor, a processor implementing other instruction sets, orother processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Theprocessor 122 is configured to execute processing logic in instructionsfor performing the operations and steps discussed herein.

The computer system 120 may further include a network interface device130. The computer system 120 also may or may not include an input 132,configured to receive input and selections to be communicated to thecomputer system 120 when executing instructions. The computer system 120also may or may not include an output 134, including but not limited toa display, a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) ora cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., akeyboard), and/or a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system 120 may or may not include a data storage devicethat includes instructions 138 stored in a computer-readable medium 140.The instructions 138 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 124 and/or within the processor 122 duringexecution thereof by the computer system 120, the main memory 124 andthe processor 122 also constituting computer-readable medium. Theinstructions 138 may further be transmitted or received over a network142 via the network interface device 130.

While the computer-readable medium 140 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructionsfor execution by the processing device and that cause the processingdevice to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theembodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical medium, and magnetic medium.

The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps. The steps of theembodiments disclosed herein may be formed by hardware components or maybe embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used tocause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may beperformed by a combination of hardware and software.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes: amachine-readable storage medium (e.g., ROM, random access memory(“RAM”), a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium,flash memory devices, etc.); and the like.

Unless specifically stated otherwise and as apparent from the previousdiscussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description,discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“determining,” “displaying,” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data and memories represented asphysical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registersinto other data similarly represented as physical quantities within thecomputer system memories or registers or other such information storage,transmission, or display devices.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus. Various systems may beused with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it mayprove convenient to construct more specialized apparatuses to performthe required method steps. The required structure for a variety of thesesystems will appear from the description above. In addition, theembodiments described herein are not described with reference to anyparticular programming language. It will be appreciated that a varietyof programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of theembodiments as described herein.

Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithms describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedas electronic hardware, instructions stored in memory or in anothercomputer-readable medium and executed by a processor or other processingdevice, or combinations of both. The components of the distributedantenna systems described herein may be employed in any circuit,hardware component, integrated circuit (IC), or IC chip, as examples.Memory disclosed herein may be any type and size of memory and may beconfigured to store any type of information desired. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability, various illustrative components,blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generallyin terms of their functionality. How such functionality is implementeddepends on the particular application, design choices, and/or designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentembodiments.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gateor transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Furthermore,a controller may be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration).

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in RAM, flash memory, ROM, Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM),Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk,a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readablemedium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to theprocessor such that the processor can read information from, and writeinformation to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storagemedium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storagemedium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a remote station.In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside asdiscrete components in a remote station, base station, or server.

It is also noted that the operational steps described in any of theexemplary embodiments herein are described to provide examples anddiscussion. The operations described may be performed in numerousdifferent sequences other than the illustrated sequences. Furthermore,operations described in a single operational step may actually beperformed in a number of different steps. Additionally, one or moreoperational steps discussed in the exemplary embodiments may becombined. Those of skill in the art will also understand thatinformation and signals may be represented using any of a variety oftechnologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands,information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips, that may be referencesthroughout the above description, may be represented by voltages,currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, or particles, opticalfields or particles, or any combination thereof.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim doesnot actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is nototherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that thesteps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended thatany particular order be inferred.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications combinations,sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodimentsincorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur topersons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to includeeverything within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

1. A communication system supporting expanded, programmablecommunications services distribution to remote communications servicesector areas, comprising: a central unit configured to distributedownlink communications signals to a plurality of remote antenna unitsover at least one communications medium; and each of the plurality ofremote antenna units configured to receive downlink communicationssignals from the central unit over the at least one communicationsmedium, each of the plurality of remote antenna units comprising atleast one antenna configured to wirelessly distribute the receiveddownlink communications signals; the central unit, configured to:receive a downlink communications signal among a plurality of downlinkcommunications signals, for a communications service among one or morecommunications services from at least one base station; and the centralunit comprising at least one first programmable switch configured to:receive the plurality of downlink communications signals; and switch theplurality of downlink communications signals into one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets, based on a first programmableconfiguration for the at least one first programmable switch; anextender module configured to: receive the one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets; and extend the received one or moredownlink communications service sector sets into one or more extendeddownlink communications service sector sets based on a configuration ofthe extender module; and at least one second programmable switchconfigured to: receive the one or more extended downlink communicationsservice sector sets; and switch the received one or more extendeddownlink communications service sector sets into one or more remotecommunications service areas each comprised of a subset of the pluralityof remote antenna units, based on a second programmable configurationfor the at least one second programmable switch.
 2. The communicationsystem of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first programmableswitch comprises: a first programmable switching matrix configured to:receive the plurality of downlink communications signals; and switch aselected set of the plurality of downlink communications signals, basedon the first programmable configuration for the first programmableswitching matrix; and at least one first radio distribution moduleconfigured to: receive the selected set of the plurality of downlinkcommunications signals; and combine the received selected set of theplurality of downlink communications signals to provide a communicationsservice sector set among the one or more downlink communications servicesector sets.
 3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein each of theat least one second programmable switch comprises: at least one secondradio distribution module configured to: receive at least one extendeddownlink communications service sector set among the one or moreextended downlink communications service sector sets from the extendermodule; and distribute the received at least one extended downlinkcommunications service sector set; a second programmable switchingmatrix configured to: receive the at least one extended downlinkcommunications service sector set from the at least one second radiodistribution module; and switch the received at least one extendeddownlink communications service sector set into the one or more remotecommunications service areas, based on the second programmableconfiguration for the second programmable switching matrix.
 4. Thecommunication system of claim 3, wherein the second programmableswitching matrix is configured to set the number of one or more ofremote communications service areas up to the number of the at least onesecond radio distribution module based on the second programmableconfiguration for the second programmable switching matrix.
 5. Thecommunication system of claim 2, wherein the extender module furthercomprises at least one extender splitter configured to extend thereceived one or more downlink communications service sector sets bybeing configured to split the received one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets into a plurality of the extendeddownlink communications service sector sets based on the configurationof the extender module.
 6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein:the at least one first programmable switch is further comprised of afirst programmable switch; and the at least one extender splitter isconfigured to split the received one or more downlink communicationsservice sector sets from the first programmable switch into theplurality of the extended downlink communications service sector sets,based on the configuration of the extender module.
 7. The communicationsystem of claim 6, wherein: the at least one second programmable switchis further comprised of a plurality of second programmable switches; andthe at least one extender splitter is further configured to distributethe plurality of the extended downlink communications service sectorsets based on the configuration of the extender module to the pluralityof second programmable switches, based on the configuration of theextender module.
 8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein theextender module further comprises at least one extender combinerconfigured to extend the received one or more downlink communicationsservice sector sets by being configured to combine the received one ormore downlink communications service sector sets into the one or moreextended downlink communications service sector sets based on theconfiguration of the extender module.
 9. The communication system ofclaim 8, wherein: the at least one first programmable switch is furthercomprised of a plurality of first programmable switches; and the atleast one extender combiner is configured to combine the received one ormore downlink communications service sector sets from the plurality offirst programmable switches into a plurality of the extended downlinkcommunications service sector sets, based on the configuration of theextender module.
 10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein theplurality of first programmable switches are physically disposed in arespective radio interface module (RIM).
 11. The communication system ofclaim 9, wherein: the at least one second programmable switch is furthercomprised of a second programmable switch; and the at least one extendercombiner is further configured to distribute the plurality of theextended downlink communications service sector sets based on theconfiguration of the extender module to the second programmable switch,based on the configuration of the extender module.
 12. The communicationsystem of claim 1, wherein the extender module comprises: at least oneextender splitter configured to extend the received one or more downlinkcommunications service sector sets by being configured to split thereceived one or more downlink communications service sector sets into aplurality of the extended downlink communications service sector setsbased on the configuration of the extender module; and at least oneextender combiner further configured to extend the received one or moredownlink communications service sector sets by being configured tocombine the received one or more downlink communications service sectorsets into the one or more extended downlink communications servicesector sets based on the configuration of the extender module.
 13. Thecommunication system of claim 1, wherein: the central unit is furtherconfigured to receive an uplink communications signal among a pluralityof extended uplink communications service sector sets; the at least onesecond programmable switch is further configured to: receive one or moreuplink communications signals from at least one remote antenna unitamong the plurality of remote antenna units; and switch the received oneor more uplink communications signals into one or more extended uplinkcommunications service sector sets, based on the first programmableconfiguration for the at least one first programmable switch; theextender module further configured to: receive the one or more extendeduplink communications service sector sets; and combine the received oneor more extended uplink communications service sector sets into one ormore uplink communications service sector sets based on theconfiguration of the extender module; and the at least one firstprogrammable switch is further configured to: receive the one or moreuplink communications service sector sets; and switch the received oneor more uplink communications service sector sets into at least oneuplink communications signal, based on the second programmableconfiguration for the at least one second programmable switch.
 14. Thecommunication system of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondprogrammable switch comprises: a second programmable switching matrixconfigured to: receive the at least one uplink communications signal;and switch a selected set of the at least one uplink communicationssignal into one or more extended uplink communications service sectorsets, based on the second programmable configuration for the secondprogrammable switching matrix; and at least one first radio distributionmodule configured to: receive the one or more extended uplinkcommunications service sector sets; and combine the received one or moreextended uplink communications service sector sets to provide the one ormore uplink communications service sector sets.
 15. The communicationsystem of claim 14, wherein the at least one first programmable switchcomprises: at least one first radio distribution module configured to:receive the one or more uplink communications service sector sets fromthe extender module; and distribute the received one or more uplinkcommunications service sector sets; a first programmable switchingmatrix configured to: receive the one or more uplink communicationsservice sector sets from the at least one first radio distributionmodule; and switch the received one or more uplink communicationsservice sector sets into the at least one uplink communications signal,based on the first programmable configuration for the first programmableswitching matrix.
 16. The communication system of claim 13, wherein theextender module further comprises at least one extender combinerconfigured to extend the received one or more extended uplinkcommunications service sector sets by being configured to combine thereceived one or more extended uplink communications service sector setsinto the one or more uplink communications service sector sets based onthe configuration of the extender module.
 17. The communication systemof claim 16, wherein: the at least one second programmable switch isfurther comprised of a second programmable switch; and the at least oneextender combiner is configured to combine the received one or moreextended uplink communications service sector sets from the secondprogrammable switch into one or more uplink communications servicesector sets, based on the configuration of the extender module.
 18. Thecommunication system of claim 17, wherein: the at least one firstprogrammable switch is further comprised of a plurality of firstprogrammable switches; and the at least one extender combiner is furtherconfigured to distribute the one or more uplink communications servicesector sets to the plurality of first programmable switches, based onthe configuration of the extender module.
 19. The communication systemof claim 13, wherein the extender module further comprises at least oneextender splitter configured to split the received one or more extendeduplink communications service sector sets by being configured to splitthe received one or more extended uplink communications service sectorsets into the one or more uplink communications service sector setsbased on the configuration of the extender module.
 20. The communicationsystem of claim 19, wherein: the at least one second programmable switchis further comprised of a plurality of second programmable switches; andthe at least one extender splitter is configured to split the receivedone or more extended uplink communications service sector sets from theplurality of second programmable switches into the one or more uplinkcommunications service sector sets, based on the configuration of theextender module.
 21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein theplurality of second programmable switches are physically disposed in arespective optical interface module (OIM).
 22. The communication systemof claim 20, wherein: the at least one first programmable switch isfurther comprised of a first programmable switch; and the at least oneextender combiner is further configured to distribute the one or moreextended uplink communications service sector sets to the firstprogrammable switch, based on the configuration of the extender module.23. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the one or morecommunications services are comprised of at least one radio-frequency(RF) communications service and at least one digital data communicationsservice.
 24. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the centralunit is configured to receive the plurality of downlink communicationssignals from a plurality of base stations for a plurality ofcommunications services.
 25. The communication system of claim 1,wherein the at least one communications medium is comprised of at leastone optical fiber.
 26. The communication system of claim 5, wherein theextender module is disposed between a head-end unit (HEU) of the centralunit, and an optical interface unit (OIU) of the central unit.
 27. Thecommunication system of claim 8, wherein the extender module furthercomprises a programmable switching matrix configured to programmablydistribute any of the plurality of the extended downlink communicationsservice sector sets from the at least one extender splitter to the atleast one extender combiner. 28.-36. (canceled)